Fire-escape.



L. JANKOVITS. FIRE ESCAPE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 19.1915.

1 ,1 60,175 Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

I 2 SHEETS-SHEET l- 56 1'9 lNl/E/VTUR L. JANKOVlTS. FIRE ESCAPE. APPLICATION FILED JULY19.1915.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

. A TTORNE Y BY W @FF Q LOUIS JANKOVITS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

To all whom it may concern. V

Be it known that I, LOUIS JANKovITs, a subject of the King of Hungar residing at 504 East Seventy-ninth street, in the city of New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fire escapes and particularly to such types as are adapted to be secured to the outside walls of building, as dwellings, offices and the'like.

The objects of the invention are, first, to provide means whereby imperiled occupants of a burning building may be safely and rapidly removed from danger and without the necessity of climbing upon platforms, stages, steps or ladders as is now customary.

The second object is to provide means, combined with the fire escape, whereby people making use of the same are prevented from falling from the cars employed and are also protected from the effects of heat radiating from the building from which they are escaping.

A third object is to. provide means, acting in the manner of a water curtain, whereby the heat is eflectually prevented from damaging the cars and occupants and at the same time the mechanism employed is kept in a cool and safe condition while in use.

These and other objects which will become more fully apparent, are obtained by the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification and in which V Figure l is a front elevation indicating the application of the device to the front of a building. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, indicating its relationto the several floors of a building. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section, taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a partial vertical sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.-

The operative mechanism of the device may be placed on one of the lower floors of the building or the basement thereof, the latter location being preferable, convenient for the exit of passengers as they reach the ground level. Power as from a crank or motor is applied to the shaft 10, driving the spur pinion 11 and through it the gear 12, the shaft 13 of which extends through the frame-Work and has rigidly mounted Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed. July 19, 1915.

shaped head 31 suited Patented Nov. 16, 1915. Serial No.40,663.

upon it, between the side members 14 a pair of sprocket wheels 15 engaging the endless chain 16, the upper portion of which is carried by similar sprockets 17.

The frame-work is rigidly secured to the walls of the building by means of horizontal bars 18 and 19, respectively at the upper and lower portion thereof, and may be further supported bystandards 20, extending to a firm foundation by the side of the building.

To the chain 16 are attached cars at intervals along its length comprised of a platform 22, back 23 and suitable guards 24 at the sides. Secured to the lower side of the bottom elements 22 are square bars 25, the extending ends 26 of which operate in a track or guideway 27 formed with the side frames 14 and serving to control the car in ascending or descending, entirely preventing lateral or other motion of the car which, by action of the chain, is caused to travel in a circuitous path. The back support of the car carries a central'arm 30 having a T to engage in a longitudinally slotted guideway 33.

he several cars are brought successively into position with the landing platform 35 extending from the building and being open at the front are easily accessible, and it will be evident that exit therefrom is as readily obtained when they have reached the ground or other landing surface. In order to prevent scorching of the passengers or the mechanism there are provided a number of shields or guards 36 which act as buffers for the heat effects and at the same time prevent people from falling off at the front, unguarded side of the elevator cars.

In order to keep the apparatus and passengers making use of the same relatively cool and free from the effects of fire, pipes 40 are provided, the same extending downward at the four corners traversed by the car and provided with a plurality of fine apertures 41 so that water may be sprayed upon the car and its occupants as they move downward. These pipes are engaged at the upper end of the arch joining them by a feed pipe 42 connecting with a reservoir, tank or other system of water supply and provided with a control cook 43.

From an inspection of Fig. 2 it may be seen that as the cars are moved around the axis of the upper sprocket wheels, the elements 31 will make contact with the handle of the cock,- thereby opening the same and starting the spray into operation, which will be continued until the cock is closed after use has been had of the apparatus; In

order to provide for this action the guideway 33 is opened at the top and bottom, as at a l and 45, allowing the elements 31 to pass intoand out of the slot as indicated. If it be desirable to discharge the passengers at a point above the surface of ground, a metallic ladder 50 may be used, the same being held normally out of reach by the cable 51, wound 'upon a drum actuated through the spur gears 52 and 53, the latter being operated by a crank applied to the extending shaft 54. The ladder 5O ispartially contained in the channel 56 and angle 57 secured to a part of the platform 35 extending outwardly from the window, the platform also carrying brackets 58 in which the shaft is mounted carrying the gears 52 and 53.

In operation when it is desired to make use of the apparatus, the window of the building may be removed, allowing egress of persons upon the several platforms 35 and the mechanism being started it is evident that they can step easily and quickly upon the platforms 22 of the car and that the passengers will be carried safely and rapidly to a place of discharge, one car fol- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the lowing another so that a large number of eople are readily provided for.

While I have shown an operative embodiment of the invention it is not desired to be held strictly to the construction of the apparatus shown, as obviously many minor changes may be made without departing from the scope of the claims appended.-

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is In a fire escape, metal frame attached to a building having landings at the windows thereof, of endless chains transversable in said frame, a plurality of passenger cars capable of continuous operation in a circuitous path, bars combined with said cars extending beyond the ends thereof attached to said chains, fixed vertical guides at the sides of said frame receptive of the ends of said bars, means for actuating said chains, T shaped the combination with a guide bars secured perpendicularly to the platforms of said cars and a slotted guide central of said frame receptive of said guide bars.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

LOUIS JANKOVITS.

Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. C. 

